Jump Around

Back in 2006 I was living in Fort Wayne, IN. I was 24 and a college graduate and had no clue what I wanted to do when I grew up. I was onto my 3rd job after graduating (in 2 years) and I had recently ended a relationship that broke my heart and I just didn't have a clue. I felt alone and desperate to find my "purpose" you could say.

For some time I had wanted to volunteer and I finally got to it. I went to the local Y and choose to work in a domestic violence shelter. I've always felt very blessed and fortunate so I wanted to give back. At the time I wasn't an active Christian. I prayed when I needed God and that was it, but it was the beginning of having a  heart for those who need help and love and compassion.

In 2007  while I was home on vacation from working on the Mississippi River I decided I wanted to sponsor a child overseas. My grandparents had sponsored two while I was growing up and it's something I always remembered. This was another difficult time in my life. I was tired of picking losers, well actually they choose me and I was too stupid to say no. I was still trying to find my way in this world and my grandpa wasn't doing well. He ended up passing away while I was home.

During this vacation in November though I finally started to seek God and read the bible. I wanted to know more and learn. This is where life started getting good. Changing up for a minute..I'm currently reading Radical by David Platt. In it he talks about how we have changed the Gospel to the American Gospel. We hear what we want and twist it to fit our lifestyles. And I have to agree. We are so darn blessed here in the U.S. that we don't know what it's like to be uncomfortable. We don't know what it's like to eat one meal a day if at all. Or to walk miles to fetch dirty water. Or to only own the clothes on your back. Life is good for us here.

Back in 2006 when I started volunteering I knew how good I had it even though my life wasn't going the way I wanted. I had a college education, a roof over my head, a nice car, plenty of clothes, food to eat, clean water and much more. All my needs were met for and some of my wants. When 2 billion people live on less than $2/day, how could I complain? I've always had a heart for those who have less than me even before I really began reading the bible and going to church. The reason I bring this up is because poverty is a huge issue in this world and something ALL Christians should be concerned about (really ALL people but especially Christians).

An excerpt from Mr. Platt's book "This frightens me. Good intentions, regular worship, and even study of the Bible do not prevent blindness in us. Part of our sinful nature instinctively chooses to see what we want to see and to ignore what we want to ignore. I can live my Christian life and even lead the church while unknowingly overlooking evil."

An example of this is slavery. Christians made excuses and tried to twist the words of the Bible to say slavery of another human being is OKay! But it isn't. Just because you go to church doesn't mean you won't be blind to certain injustices. Mr. Platt states in his book he was blind to the poverty in this world. He lived as if it didn't exist. A man of God, a pastor was blind to poverty. We all are blind to something. Poverty is a big issue for me. I'm concerned and what to help. Way back in 2006 I was already starting to care for those who struggled but like I said I have a blindness as well. Something that I don't like to confront but should-which is totally different than this conversation so I'll move on (just didn't want to make myself look perfect, b/c I'm far from it).

You know how some things just pop out to you or you just get. Poverty is that for me. I don't understand how people can turn a blind eye to it. I don't understand how people can keep living like others aren't suffering across the ocean. Another excerpt from his book:
"We look back on slave-owning churchgoers of 150 years ago and ask, 'How could they have treated their fellow human beings that way?' I wonder if followers of Christ 150 years from now will look back at Christians in America today and ask, 'How could they live in such big houses? How could they drive such nice cars and wear such nice clothes? How could they live in such affluence while thousands of children were dying because they didn't have food and water? How could they go on with their lives as though billions of poor didn't exist?"
Mr. Platt asks "Is materialism a blind spot in American Christianity today? Is materialism a blind spot in YOUR Christianity?" I used to want all those nice things like a huge house, nice cars, expensive clothes but things changed IN me when I choose to trust Jesus and die to myself. Of course I can still get caught up in wanting things but I don't have that same desire I did before. For me when I think about all those who have so little I can't imagine having so much.

I'm in no way wanting to come off as a perfect Christian giving away all I have. I'm still greedy at times and I don't always give as much or as often as I should. But this is something that I'm passionate about and believe more should be done to help. I know everyone has more to give and we need to stop thinking of me, me, me. Not to boast or brag but to show that I practice what I preach..........about two weeks ago I was serving and my very first table was telling me how she and her significant other were celebrating. He had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and had been approved for disability earlier than they thought it would happen. The lady had a tumor and was put on disability the year before. My heart broke for these people. The man looked too young to have Alzheimer's and it's such a horrible disease. My grandpa had it so I'm somewhat familiar. I decided I would pay for their dinner. It's the least I could do. When I left the "check", all it said was 'Thank you for coming in. Your dinner has been taken care of.' When I came back the lady told me that they had gone to Jr Prom together way back when and they found each other last year. Both of their spouses had left them. How devastating but luckily a happy ending.  The lady had been a nurse and was going to take care of him now.

I do tend to talk about other countries more than America and its mainly because we have so much help here. But there is always someone that needs something here in America and it's right in front of us. That day I paid for dinner. It doesn't have to be huge, just something to show love and compassion.

I know I jumped around a lot in this blog. I have so much in my head that it's not coming out the way I want but I hope you got something from it=) The one thing for me is that I saw way back in '06' when I wasn't following God the way I should have been I was already finding my path. I just didn't know it.